| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Maitre Cornelius by Honore de Balzac: that opened on the courtyard, he saw the entrance to his fortress and
the embankment by which he had connected his favorite residence with
the city of Tours. If Louis XI. had bestowed upon the building of his
castle the luxury of architecture which Francois I. displayed
afterwards at Chambord, the dwelling of the kings of France would ever
have remained in Touraine. It is enough to see this splendid position
and its magical effects to be convinced of its superiority over the
sites of all other royal residences.
Louis XI., now in the fifty-seventh year of his age, had scarcely more
than three years longer to live; already he felt the coming on of
death in the attacks of his mortal malady. Delivered from his enemies;
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood by Howard Pyle: been sung than the holy man seized his steel cap, clapped it on his head,
and springing to his feet, cried in a great voice, "What spy have we here?
Come forth, thou limb of evil, and I will carve thee into as fine pudding
meat as e'er a wife in Yorkshire cooked of a Sunday." Hereupon he drew
from beneath his robes a great broadsword full as stout as was Robin's.
"Nay, put up thy pinking iron, friend," quoth Robin,
standing up with the tears of laughter still on his cheeks.
"Folk who have sung so sweetly together should not fight thereafter."
Hereupon he leaped down the bank to where the other stood.
"I tell thee, friend," said he, "my throat is as parched
with that song as e'er a barley stubble in October. Hast thou
The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Grimm's Fairy Tales by Brothers Grimm: nothing more than that, I can easily keep it in mind.'
When the day dawned, therefore, the boy put his fifty talers into his
pocket, and went forth on the great highway, and continually said to
himself: 'If I could but shudder! If I could but shudder!' Then a man
approached who heard this conversation which the youth was holding
with himself, and when they had walked a little farther to where they
could see the gallows, the man said to him: 'Look, there is the tree
where seven men have married the ropemaker's daughter, and are now
learning how to fly. Sit down beneath it, and wait till night comes,
and you will soon learn how to shudder.' 'If that is all that is
wanted,' answered the youth, 'it is easily done; but if I learn how to
Grimm's Fairy Tales |
The fourth excerpt represents the element of Earth. It speaks of physical influences and the impact of the unseen on the visible world, and is drawn from Barnaby Rudge by Charles Dickens: the soldier down, at Westminster. Has any man seen or heard of
him?'
They shook their heads, and murmured an answer in the negative, as
each man looked round and appealed to his fellow; when a noise was
heard without, and a man was heard to say that he wanted Hugh--that
he must see Hugh.
'He is but one man,' cried Hugh to those who kept the door; 'let
him come in.'
'Ay, ay!' muttered the others. 'Let him come in. Let him come
in.'
The door was accordingly unlocked and opened. A one-armed man,
Barnaby Rudge |
